The Golden Fleece
-This ldngdom ls mine for I am the rtghtful hetr. But I shall The Golden Fleece leave you tJ e wealth you took from my father. All the flelds and the herds shall be yours. I ask only the scepter and tirone which were my fattrer's." retold by Anne Terry W'hite Pellas thought fast, and hls face changed color several Umes as he spoke JASON was the rightful heir to the ttrrone of Iolcus, but there "All shall be as you wish," he said. "But I, too, have a request seemed litfle chance that he would ever sit upon it' For his uncle to make. I have been troubled by a dream. The shade of Phri:
15 Anne Terry White lne uoloen rleece
men haye recorded the adventures of the heroes, and each tells When the rest of the comrades heard what a fearful taskAeetes the story tn hds own way. But arrive at last they dld. It was sun- had set Jason, many offered to undertake the trial in his stead. set, and they were weary. They took down thelr salls, then But he refused them all. rowed up the river toward the capttal, and made the vessel fast. "My desttny has brought me here,' he satd, "and come what Wlth a grateful heart, Jason offered up a libation to the gods. may, I will obey it." Then, Illled wlth uncertainty about the morrow, the herois lay But now there came to them one of the Klng's grandsons, Argus down to rest. by name, whom Jason had by chance once rescued from a "My plan," sald Jason next mornlng when the heroes con_ wrecked ship. 'ls sulted together, to get the golden fleece without llghtfng, tf "Jason," he sald, "ttrere is no hope of your performlng the labor posstble. I shall ask King Aeetes for lt, and from hts own mouth my grandfather has set you. I,et me, therefore, seek the help of we shall learn what course we must take. Now remaln quletly Medea. She ls my mother's young sister, and ls a malden skllled here on the shlp, my noble comrades, while I with two olvour ln brewing maglc potlons. Hecate herself, whose priestess she number wlll go to the palace.- is, has taught her. She alone can enable you to yoke the fleqy Khg Aeetes recelved the Argonauts glraciously. AccordLeg to bulls and plow the fields of Ares." custom, he asked no quesflons unfll they were sltttng down to "We are L:deed in a sad p[ght if our safety depends on a wo- food. But he no sooner learned who they were and what thetr man,'Jason answered htm sadly. "But go to her lf you llke. I errand was than his manner changed. will not htnder you." "Not for the golden fleece but to take my scepter and my throne you have comel" he broke out ln fury. "Return to your homes Unknown to elther Jason or Argus, Medea was herself think- before I have your tongues cut out and your hands lopped offl' il:g hard how she might help the hero. For she had seen Jason "Restrain your anger, Klng Aeetes,'Jason answered courte- as he sat at her father's table and had been sttrred by hls beauty ously. "We have come for no other purpose than I have stated. and manltr:ess. Never before had she felt love for a man, but Destlny and the command of a wtcked klng prompted me to now her feellngs strove agalxst one €rnother and were stronger come. I pray you, grant our request. Glve us the golden fleece. than herself. Many thoughts flew through her mind. Reason And lf there ls any servlce we can render you as flghilng men, sald one thlng, her heart another. we shall $adly do tt." "If I do not help him, tllds noble stranger wlll surely pertsh," The l{lng frowned. Then, changlng his manner, he spoke more she sald to herself. "But shall I, then, betray my father's klng- mildly. dom and rescue an unknown forelgner that he may go home "I hold no gfudge agalnst brave men,' he sald. "But you must and become another woman's husband? Ah, but he wtll not do prove your courage. In the fleld of Ares I have two bulls whose feer that. Before I help htm he will glve me bls promlse to marry me. are of bronze and whose breath ts IIre. you must yoke ttrem and He will never deceive me or forget what I have done for hlm." plow that fleld. Instead of graln, you must sow dragon's teeth. As she sat thus thtnklng, her slster came to her. "Medea," she From them a crop of warrlors wtll sprlng up. These you must slay said, "my son Argus, whose life you knowJason saved, has sent before nlghtlirl. All this I have done myself. If you cannot do lt, I me to beg your help. Gtve t}re stranger some device, I pray, where- wlll not gve up the fleece, for lt ls butJust that the more vallant by he can overcome the bulls." man shall have it." Medea's heart laughed when she heard her slster speak, but Jason sat speechless and confused. How could he promlse to she hid herJoy. perform such a hopeless task? At last he satd: "I "only your Argus' sake. I-et him *The will do it," she satd, for son labor which you ask ls heavy. But I will undertake lt- lnform Jason that early In the mornlng I will go to Hecate's tem- wen though I perlsh in the attempt. There are worse things than ple and there give him the mAgic with which he can survive the death." trial wlth the bulls." Wlth this the Argonauts rose from the table and went back to So Jason came to Medea tn the temple of Hecate. Never had thetr shlp. he looked so handsome. When Medea's eyes rested on the stranger 16 17 Anne Terry Whlte The Golden Fleece
from Greece, she could not take them away. And when Jason when it is stoked. Yet Jason went toward them. The creatures took her hand, her heart fluttered so that she was speechless. saw hlm and swung their arvful heads from slde to slde. They For a long time they stood sllent. Then Jason sald: bellowed and pawed the ground wlth thelr heavy cloven hoofs. 'tady, I come to beg you for the charm you promlsed. Ask l-n Rigtd and breatlless, the Argonauts watched from tJre slope return what you wlll. And know that tf you enable me and my as Jason boldly approached. Thelr hearts all but stood stlll companions to go home with the golden fleece, your glory will be when they saw Jason force flrst one bull, then the other, to lts undying. All Greece will pratse you forever." knees and harness the beasts to the yoke. And when the plow Medea did not answer-the tumult ln her breast would not let btt l::to the earth and turned up a black furrow, they broke tnto her speak. She only placed a small box ln Jason's hands. He loud cheers, while all the Colchlans stood amazed. stood holdtng the box Ughtly and gazing into her eyes, as much Jason plowed, and as he walked up the lteld and down, he confused as she. 'Thls kept taktng from hts helmet the dragon's teeth whlch had been At Iast Medea spoke. ts what you must do," she satd, anci gtven hlm and sowtng them tn the furow. In the afternoon the told him what mystic rites he must perform and how to use the four-acre fleld was done. Then Jason unyoked the bulls, and at charm she had given him. his cry they fled in terror to their underground stable. When he "Salve your body with this ointment," she sald, "and also your turned, tJre crop of armed men was springing from the earth. weapons, that they be not consumed by flre. And when the war- And now fear again took hold of the Argonauts, for tJrey saw riors sprlng from tJ:e dragon's teeth, throw a gpeat stone lrt their all the wardors prepare to hurl thelr spears at the hero. Even midst. That rvill cause them to turn one on another. And when Medea felt a wave of pantc surge over her as she beheld one all of them are dead, you can take the golden fleece and depart.' solitary youth agalnst so m€rny men. Softly she chanted a spell Tears gushed from Medea's eyes and rolled down her beauti- to help hlm. But there was no need. Jason took up a great round fi.rl face as she said the last words and added, "Do not forget the stone and tossed it in the mldst of the warrtors, and lmmedi- name of Medea when you come home reJoictng, for she will be ately they turned on one another. To the last man they perished thlnldng of you." ln that bloody war. 'Never will I forget you, noble prlncess,' Jason satd passion- Then the Argonauts cheered so that the hllls rang wlth the ately, "nelther by nlght nor by day. But tf you wlll come wlth me, sound. Rushing down into the fleld, they hugged Jason ln eager all the men and women of Greece will adore you, for only be- embraces. Even the Colchtans shouted. But Ktng Aeetes re- cause of you will their sons and husbands and brothers have turned to the palace wtthout a word. Anger gnawed at hls heart. returned home safe. And then nothlng but death should stand He knew that Jason could never have performed the labor wlth- between us." out Medea's help, and he brooded lnto tJ e nlght on vengeance Medea could have listened to his words without end, but the a:rd how he might ouhvlt the clever Argonaut. Ume had come to part. So, while Jason returned to hls compan- lons, she went back to the palace to struggle with her thoughts Medea passed the night tn agony. She feared her father, but of loyalty and home and love. she also feared what mtght befall her lf she fled wtth Jason. At last she made her declsion. The palace doors opened at her It was scarcely dawn the next day when the townspeople as- magic spells, and she hurried to the shore where the Argonauts sembled ln the sacred fleld of Ares. They took thetr stand on the kept a great ftre burning. At her call Jason leaped ashore. upper slopes. And ln thelr mldst Klng Aeetes sat clad tn purple, "My father is planntng fearful vengeance,'Medea satd. "Save his tvory scepter ln hts hand. All eyes were on Jason, who stood yourselves and me from his wrath. I wtll get you the golden upon the Ileld examinlng the heavy yoke and plow. fleece. Only swear to me, svre€rrthat you wlll treat me honorably Suddenly there was the sound of snortlng and bellowing. Into when I am a stranger in your natlve land." *The the fleld rushed the brazen-footed bulls, wreathed ln smoke and gods be my wltness that I shall make you my wtfel" Jason blowing IIre from their mouths and nostrlls. At the touch of thelr promlsed. hot breath, the grass blazed up and roared as a furnace roars *Then let us go at once and take the fleece," Medea satd.
18 19 Anne Terry White
Qtrickly the shlp carried them to the sacred grove, and to- gether Jason and Medea approached the sacred oak. The dragon stretched his long neck toward them. He hlssed flercely. But Medea's charms lulled the creature to sleep, and for the flrst tlme the sleepless eyes closed. Then,Jason snatched tle golden fleece from the limb, and the two ran toward the shlp. Wtth what wonder the Argonauts viewed the marvelous prlze they had come so far to seekt But Jason, eager to depart, would not take time to let each man touch lt. "My noble comrades," he sald, "let us be on our way, for we shall surely be pursued. And as for Medea here, know all of you that she who has helped us accompllsh what we undertook shall be my lawful wife. I look to you to help me protect her, for she has rescued Greece." So the Argonauts seated themselves hastily at the oars, and tJ:e vessel glided down the rlver and out upon the waves of the sea. Herculesand his 12 Labors
Hercules,whose name meant greatest hero in Greekmyhology, was no ordinaryhero. He had the greatgod Zeus for his father. ThoughZeus alreadyhad a wife, Hera,he had I-lerculeswith a mortalwoman. So.Hera did not like Hercules.She sent two snakes down to kill hirn in his crib, but a while after,Hercules was found stranglingboth snakes, then threw them into space. As Herculesgot older, he becamemore talentedwith a bow and arrow and his human strengthbecame increasingly stronger. Although he was strong,Hercules was driven mad by Hera. In afrenzy, he killed his wife and kids. As a result of that and to be forgiven for his sin, he was sentencedto perfonn 12 labors. These laborswere given by King Eurytheus. Eurytheuswould not havebeen king if Hera hadn'ttricked Zeus into crownins him.
LABOR 1: NEMEAN LION
The first task for Herculesto do was to kill the Nemeanlion. Although the lion had skin that couldn'tbe penetratedby anythingless than Zeus'lightning bolt, Herculesmanaged to block off its cave,wrestle it down, and chokeit to death. Sincethen, Herculeswore the impenetrableskin for a cloak andjaws for a helmet.
LABOR 2: TIIE HYDRA
After seeingHercules wearing the Nemeanlion cloak, King Eurytheushid like a coward in a storagevase. He told Herculesthe next labor from insidethe jar. The next task was to seekout and destroythe monstrousmulti-headed hydra. Many peoplethought that the hydra had a thousandor so heads. I1 did no goodto chop off or beat off a headbecause two would grow back instead. During the fight, the hydra called on an ally, a giant crab. The crabbit Herculesin the ankle. Hercules'nephewIolaus, helped Hercules by putting fire on the headsas Herculeschopped them off so that they couldn't grow back.
LABOR 3: CERYNITIAN IIIND
The third labor was to capturethe CerynitianHind. This hind was very hard to catch becauseof its knowledge. It was also sacredto Artemis, goddessof the hunt and Herculesdared not to wound it. Herculesran it down for a yearbefore he caughtit. When he found it, he took careful aim with his bow and shot it betweenthe tendonsand bonesof the two forelegs,pinning it down without drawing blood. Even thoughhe didn't draw blood, Artemis was still mad. Herculesdodged her wrath by blaming it on King Eurl'theus. LABOR 4: BOAR
The fourth labor was to bring back an enoffnousboar alive from Arcadia. Before Herculesstarted the labor, he stoppedby to seethe centaurPholus (a creaturewho was half man,half horse). While Pholuswas examining one of Hercules'arrows, he dropped it accidentallyon his won foot. The arrowwas soakedin the Hydra venomand Pholus imrnediatelydied. FrnallyHercules found the boaron top of Mount Erymanthusand he droveit into a snowbank,immobilizing it. He pickedup the boarand flung it ontohis shoulder.He carriedit backto Eurytheuswho coweredas usualin his storagejar.
LABOR 5: STABLE CLEANING
Eurytheuswas very proud of himself for thinking of the fifth labor becausehe thought it would humiliatehis cousinHercules. Hercules had to cleanout the stableof King Augeasin one day. Augeasowned many herdsof cattle which depositedtheir manurein suchquantity over the yearsthat a thick smell hung over the entirePeloponnesus. Instead of using a shoveland a basketlike Eur5,.theusimagined, Hercules diverted two rivers throughthe stableyard and finishedthe job without getting dirty. But becauseHercules demandedpayment, Eurytheus did not call it a labor.
LABOR 6: STYMPHALIAN BIRDS
The sixth labor put Herculesup againstthe Styrnphalianbirds, which live in a marsh nearLake Stymphalusin Arcadia. The sourcesdiffer on thesebirds. Somepeople say they eat human flesh, somesay they killed men by shootingthem with their feathets,and somesay they merely constituteda nuisancebecause of their number. Herculescould not get through the marshto the birds. So Herculesmade lots of soundwith his castanets. The birds took flight becauseof the racketand Herculesdropped them with arrows.
LABOR 7: CRETAN BULL
In the seventhlabor, Herculeshad to defeatthe CretanBull. This bull was greatlyfeared in Cretewhich was ruled by QueenPasiphae. Even though the bull belchedflarnes, Herculesoverpowered it and shippedit back to Athens where Theseushad to deal with it.
LABOR 8: MARES OF DIOMEDES
Next Herculeshad to bring Eurytheusthe maresof Diomedes. Thesehorses ate the flesh of travelerswho madethe mistakeof acceptingDiomedes hospitality. He fed Diomedes to his own maresand then took them to Eurytheus. After he saw them, they were releasedinto the wild and eventuallyeaten by wild animalson Mount Olympus.
LABOR 9: AMAZON BELT
The ninth labor took Herculesto the Land of the Amazonsto get their queensbelt for Eurytheus'daughter. The Amazonswere a group of women archerswho had invented the art of fighting on a horse. Herculesbrought along someother heroes,among them Theseus.When Herculesasked Hippolyte (the Amazon Queen)for the belt shewillingly gaveit to him. Hera, on the other hand,was not about to let hirn off that easy. Shetold the Amazonsthat the Greekshad kidnapped their queenand a greatbattle ensued. llerculesran with the belt andTheseus kidnapped an Amazonprincess.
LABOR 1O:CATTLE FROM THUS GERYON
Herculeshad to stealcattle from ThusGeryon for the tenthlabor. His cattlehad three headsand/or three separatebodies frorn the waist down. He also had a watch dog named Orthuswhich had two heads. This labor took place somewherein Spain. Orthus ran at Herculeswhile he rvasstealing the cattleand Herculestook hirn out with one blow from his woodenclub. Herculestook the cattleand the guarddog backto Greece.
LABOR II: HESPERIDES
The Hesperideswere nyrnphsthat Hera told to guardthe applesshe got as a wedding gift. The appleswere kept in a grove surroundedby atall wall and also guardedby a many headeddragon. The appleswere locatedin the mountainsnamed after Atlas. Atlas sidedagainst Zeus in a war and his punishmentwas to hold up the Earth and the Heavens. Herculeswas told that he would not be able to get to the appleswithout the aid of Atlas. Atlas wasonly too huppyto oblige. He told Herculesto hold the Earthwhile he retrieved the fruit. FirstHercules had to kill the dragonwith an arrow. When Atlas returned,he realizedhow nice it felt to havethe straingone from holding up the Earth. Herculessaid hejust wantedto give Atlas backthe Earthlong enoughto put a cushionon his shoulder. When Atlas got the Earth and Heavensback, Herculeswalked off with the apples,never to return.
LABOR I2IHELLHOUND OF HADES
As the final labor,Hercules was to bring the hellhoundup from Hades,the kingdornof the dead. The first barrierwas to get acrossthe river Styx. You had to be deadand you had to pay a bribe in the form of a coin underthe corpse'stongue. Herculesdid not pass in either of the categorieswhich madethe ferry boatmanvery mad. But Herculesmerely gloweredso fiercely he had to let him across.
Next he had to deal with Cerberuswho had razor teeth,three heads of dogs,and a venomoussnake for a tail. He lashedthis tail at Herculeswhile one headreached for his throat. But Herculeswas wearinghis trusty lion's skin, which is irnpenetrable.He eventuallychoked the beastinto submissionand draggedhim to Tyryns rvherehe receivedhis credit for all the labors. Herculesfinally died rvhenhis wife Deinaragave hirn a tunic coveredin the Hydra's venom on accident. He died in agony after he put it on. Perseus
hts walls continued, which was a good thlng. A fisherman, pass_ Perseus lng by, heard the crles ald broke open ttte chest. His name was Dlctys, and he took Dana€ and perseus to hls home, where he by Alice Low and hls wlfe cared for them gladly, for they were chlldless. Perseus grew lnto a strong young man and became a flsher_ man on that small island. He and his mother were content until KING Acrisius of Argos had a beauUful daughter named Dictys's brother, Polydectes, who ruled the island, fell in love Dana€, but he was not sattslled with her, for he wanted a son. wlth Dana€ and tried to force her to marr1r him:,perseus He visited tJle oracle at Delphi to find out if would de_ he ever have fended trts mother so bravely that polydectes a male chtld. To dectded he had to his dismay he was told, "you shall never have a get rld of hlm, son. Furthermore, your daughter shall give btrth to a son who Pretendlng he was going to marrlr poly_ shall take your llfe." - another prlncess, asked each guest to brtng a wedding gtft. perseus satd to I must make certain that Dona€ neuer lws ang chiWren, sald {e9te9 'Alas, Polydectes, I am too poor to brinS a gft for a ruler and hls the ki:rg to himself. And he shut hls daughter away from the brtde." world ln abronze house underground, so that no man would And Polydectes satd, "Ihen I shall tell you of a gift you can ever fall in love with her and father her chlld. Nobody could win for me, but I do not know if you are brave ..rJrrgt to get lt.,' enter tJle house, for only a tiny secilon of the roof was open to -Iell me what tt ts, and I promise I shall get tt for you," the surface of the earth, to let in light and alr. 'I safa Perseus. do not lack for bravery." Poor Dana€l She was all alone, week after week, wlthJust a 'Very .l well," sald Polydectes. want you to brlng me patch of sky to look at. Then one day a the head strange thlng occurred. of Medusa, the horrible Gorgon." Suddenly a shower of gold rained down into her house, and Perseus was trapped by his bold prornlse, even though he ttrat shower changed into Zeus, who declared his love for her. l _ ' 1 knew that thls feat was imposslble for one man alone. Medusa Within the year Dana6 bore Zeus's son, whom she named was one of the three Gorgons-huge, hideous wtnged creatures, Perseus. DanaE tried to hide Perseus from her father. At last, l Thetr halr was made of snakes, and their faces were so ugly though, King Acrtsius discovered him and sald to Eana6, .One tha:t anyone who looked at them immediately turned to stone. day thls son of yours wiil kill me. I cannot ldll him, for that Fortunately for Perseus, a goddess and a god overheard that would anger hls father, Zeus. But I will have the two of you conversaUon, and not long a-fterwardthey appeared sealed ln a chest and tossed lnto you to him and the sea. If do not survlve, offered him their help. that will be Poseldon's fault.- First Athena flew down from Mount Olympus, holding her "Please,Father, spare us," cried Dana€. "I will keep perseus by dazzllng shield of brass. She gave tt to the astontshed pErseus, my side always and make certaln that he wlll never harm you.. 'You 'The saying, must use thls as a mlrror when you slay Medusa. But Acrisius said, oracle at Delphl never lies, and I t}tJs way you wlll not look at her must protect myself.' !n direcfly, but onlyat her re_ flectlon, and so you will not be turned to stone." He ordered carpenters to make a large wooden chest. When lt Perseus thanked the wise goddess and then sald, .But I was flnlshed, he put Dana€ and Perseus ln it and had do lt thrown not know where Medusa llves. How lnto the sea. shall I flnd her.?. At that moment, Perseus saw a brlght light overhead. Her_ For a day and a night, Dana€ cowered in tJ:e chest, holdireg mes, t'Ile messenger of the gods, flew down and landed at hts Perseus in her arms as the waves tossed them to and fro. Then, side. "I shall be your gutde," he sald, "and also help you over- suddenly, Dana€ felt a bump, and tJ.e chest stopped moving. come the terrible Medusa. Here is a sword that can never be "We are on land,' she said to Perseus. "But how can get we ever broken, not even by the hard scales of Medusa's out ofthls sealedchest?" -This neck." is lndeed a wonderful glft," sa_ldperseus. "Now I must Perseus qas too young to understand her, and he cried and be on my way to slay Medusa and bring back her head." cried because he was h*gry. Dana€ tried to comfort him, but *There "Not yet," said Hermes. are three other thlngs you must 38 39 Allce low Perseus
woke up when they heard the head- have flrst: winged sarrdals, a m"Sc wallet, and a cap to make you The other two Gorgons about. They flew tnto the alr lrt alis_ible. These are guarded by the nlmrphs of the North, ana onty less body of Medusa thrashing But they could not seetrlm. for he had on the GrayWomen, who ltve ln a dreary gray land, knowwhere to pursutt of P....t ". tn hls wlnged sandals' flnd them. Follow me, and we will begtn ttre longJourney." irt, of lnvlslblltty, and he flew away ".p Hermes guided Perseus,to the gray land, whlre it was always faster than the wlnd. home alone, for Hermes, hls misslon gray hriltght. At last they found the shrlveled old Gray Women. Now Perseus headed for On hls way' Perseus slew a dangerous who had swanlike bodies and human heads, but onlv one eve accompllshed, had left. to devour a lovely named among the three of them. perseus and Hermes frfa Uenfna a sea m6nster that was about Princess took Andromeda home wlth htm' for rock and watched the Gray Women pass the eye around. Each Andromeda. Then Perseus had a turn to put it ln the mlddle of her forehead. she had agreed to be hls bdde. "The home, Perseus strode lnto Poly- next tlme ttre eye is passed around," said Hermes to As soor;as they reached 'you the ruler, "I have brought you the Perseus, must grab it and not gtve it back untll they tell dectes' palace and safd to you where to flnd the nymphs of the North. head of Medusa." to belleve Perseus' "lf you even h3d Perseus watted for the rlght moment. Then he darted out and But Polydectes refused you would not be here to tell the tale' What snatched tJre eye. The Gray women ran around bltndlv, shout- go.r" ,,"oiMedusa' lng, "Where is our eye? Who took tt?" a llar you arel" "I to be taunted and mtstrusted' And took your eye," Perseus said, "and I will not gtve lt back Perseus could not stand had sent hlm on the chase until you tell me how to {lnd the nymphs of the North." now he reallzed that tllts cruel ruler pulled out Medusa s head to show lt to Of course the Gray Women were an*ous to have thelr eve. Just-eo$decles, to get rtd of hlm. He -He the moment he saw lt' and so they tmmedtately gave perseus detalled dlrections. who turned to stone gave them back their eye and went on hls way with Hermes. t 40 Theseus and the Minotaur Now as ttre young traveler strode ltghtly along, h1smlnd busy Theseusand the Minotaur wlth thoughts of Athens and trigh deeds, the flrst of the evlldo- ers who beset the way rushed out at hlm from the woods. A retold by Anne Terry rilThite black bearskin cloaked hts bullcy body and an lron club was in his hand. He stood squarely in the path, brandishtng hts weapon arrd shoutlng fearful ttreats. IN the palace of old Ktng Pittheus of Troezen a grandson was Theseus dtd not draw back. "To slay villalns like you, have I growing up-brave, strong, and handsome. And people satd of on t}te attacker. 'What come tlds wayl" he cried and flung h,imself boldly hlm: wonder that Theseus is so falr and noble? Is not the Not in vain had the prince labored to perfect hlmself tn great god Poseldon hts father?" wrestling and bodnS. He soon left the savage dead upon the The young Theseus was pleasedenough with being a god's son. ground. But ttre lron club he took away and ever after carrted the more especlally as hls cousin Heracles was one. For Theseus wlth him. Dtd not Heracles his cousln also bear a club? ldolized the hero whose praises sounded ln wery court. Often the Many a tlme on thatJourney Theseus was glad of the power- boy said to htmself, "I will be like Heracles and slay wild beasts ful weapon. For the way to Atltens, as his grandfather had and gtants and evil men." So it was a shock to htm to learn that he warned, was infested qrlth robbers. Three more scoundrels he was no demigod but the son of a mortal-King Aegeus of Athens. slew before he reached ttre river Cephisus not far from Athens. The secret was revealed to hlm in a curious way. For severa-l And had not chance put him on his guard, before crossfuxgthat years past on his birthday, hls mother, the hlncess AetJrra, rtver, he mtght have lost hls llfe. For now th-erecame toward had taken hlm to a great black stone standteg by the sea. and smiltng 'My hlm a villain of another sort, a fellow richly clad son," she had always said, "see if you can push thJs and pleasant of speech. stone aside." "Noble traveler," he said to Theseus, "you must come with me Try as he would, he had never been able to do it. But on hls and eat and drlnk of the best my house affords, for it ls my cus- elghteenth birthday he had scarcely exerted his strength when tom to show hospitality to all who pass this way." the mfghty rock ylelded, disclosing a hollow beneath, and in the "I am in haste," Theseus answered, thanktng hlm courteously. hollow lay a gold-hilted sword and a palr of embroldered sandals. But the other seized hold of Theseus' hands and would not let "Ttris sword and these sandals were your father's," Theseus' hlm go. lfreseus did not like to offend one who seemed so hos- mother satd. "Take them up, for now they are yours.' pitable. So against hts will he followed the stranger to his house. Then she told him about her secret marriage to Ktng Aegeus Now whlle they sat at table, hls host was called from the cham- and how on parttng from her he had sald: "When my son-tf ber, and the slave who poured the wlne, whlspered to Theseus: you bear a son-ls strong enough to move thds stone, give hlrn "Young man, flee thls house whJle yet you mayt My master is my sword and my sandals and let him come to Atlens and a monster of evil. He wtll bid you sleep ln hls famed iron bed make hlmself known to me." which flts all men. Once you are asleep' he wlll btnd you to it. If Theseus at once put on ttre sandals and strapped the great you are too long for his bed, he will cut off your legs. If you are gold-hilted sword by hls slde. He was all on IIre to go to Athens, too short, he will stretch you to flt. Therefore ls he called Pro- "I wlll provlde you with a vessel and oarsmen," hrisgrandfa- crustes. t].e Stretcher." ther King Plttheus said. "For the roads are beset widr robbers.. had 'Indeed, Theseus sald no word, but grasped hts club, whlch he lndeed, grandfather, I *{ll go by land," Theseus lald down by hlm. And before he left that house, he had fltted protested. "For how can I come to my father with his sword un- Frocrustes to his own bed. stained? Greece rlngs wlth the fame of Heracles my cousin, and shall I avotd robbers rather than slay them?" News of the hero's errryloitstraveled fast. long before Theseus Theseus pleaded so hard that turthe end King ptttheus, great lrrrew that a brave youth from Troezen was on 'Do arrived, Aegeus as were hls fears, gave ln and said, accordlng to your spirtt." his way to Athens. But the King had no thought that tttls was So Theseus set out on foot and alone. his son ald an:dously awalted hls arrlval. For Athens was lrt 42 43 Anne Terrv Whlte Theseus and the Mlnotaur turmoll, and the childless Ktng was afrald. from Crete to demand for the third time the terrtble human trtb_ 'The people mtglht set hlm on the throne tn my place," he ute whlch every nlne years had to be pald to Klng Mlnos. thought. Years before, Androgeos, the son of Minos, had gone to Athens Now Aegeus' wlfe was none other than Medea, that same to take part ln the games. He had shown gfeat prowess, overcom_ Medea who had taken such fearful revenge on Jason. In her tng all the Greeks. Provoked by thls, Aegeus had treacherously chariot drawn by dragons she had escaped througfr the alr to caused Androgeos to be slatn, whereupon King Minos made war Athens. There she had gatned great l-nIluence over the old Klng onhim, The Ktng of Crete ralsed a great fleet and pressed Aegeus and had then got hlm to marry her. She knew who Theseus was. so hard that he was glad to make peace at any prlce. And th; She, too, feared hls corntng. But lt was for a dlfferent reason. price was terrible,-a tribute of seven youths and seven maldens "Wth a hero son by hJs side, the ktng wtI no longer hearken to to be sent to crete and thrown to the Mlnotaur, 0re monster half- me as of old," she thought. man, half-bull that lived in the l.^abyrtnth. And she sald to Aegeusl "Ict us poison Theseus at the llrst Theseus saw tJ-at the Athentans were deeply angry wtth hts opportunfty. For I have learned by my maglc arts that he comes father, who had brought thts gplef upon them. At once he of- to destroy you." fered to go to Minos. So when wlth welcomtng crtes the Athentans brought the hero *No, .The no, my sonl" Aegeus pleaded. vicflms will be chosen to the palace, Aegeus recelved htm graclously, hddlng for the mo- by lot. Walt and see if you are selected. I have but newly found ment hls evil lntenflons. Theseus, for hts part, was all eagerness. youl" He cotrld hardly walt to make htmself known to hls father. But But Theseus was like a rock. "I will be one of t]:e fourteen," heart on havlngAegeus recognize him of he the Prlnce had set hts satd, "whether I am chosen or not.' hls own accord. So he gave no reason for hls comtng and ac- So Aegeus had to yteld. Weeptng, and wtth all Athens follow- cepted the Ktng's hospttaltty merely as any hero mlght do. lng, he went wittr ttre vlctims to ttre dtsmal ship. Morntng came. Theseus took hls place bestde Aegeus at the "O my father, do not weep so," Theseus told hlm. "All ls as the meal that had been set forth. A goblet of wlne stood at the youth's gods wlll. It may lndeed be my fate to slay the Mtnotaur, and.we place, and Aegeus watched eagerly to see Theseus dratn tt, for yho sall today ln sorrow may yet return tnJoy. If so, you wtll Medea had mlxed a deadly polson for him. ButTheseus dtd not know the good news from afar. For I promise you, tf the Mlno- even noflce the wlne. Hls happy eyes were turned on hls father taur be slatn, the ship that brlngs us home urill not wear these and he walted, a smlle'on hts parted llps, hoplng to be recognized. deadly black sails but victorious white ones.. When Aegeus made no slgn, ttre hero quiefly latd hts sword on the After this the vessel took to tJle sea, the land slipped away, table. and the youths and maldens turned their faces toward Cretl. A look ofhorror spread over Aegeus' face and a loud cry es- At Cnossos, the capital of Crete, crowds gathered to see the caped htm as he beheld the golden hllt. He reached across the Athenlans whom the Mlnotaurwould soon devour, Wlth manv a table and dashed the fatal goblet to the floor. Then, weeplng, he tatrnt ttre captlves were paraded ln front of the palace. Everyone took hts son ln hls arms and hugged hlm and passed hls hands ran out to see the vlcUms, and wlth them Arladne, Kbng Mlnos' over tJre stalwart body and felt the knottlng muscles and lidssed lovely daughter. She stood wlth a throng of her maldens and the falr beardless cheeks of hts hero son. Nor could Theseus looked on as did the rest. But her gentle eyes llxed themselves on look enough upon hJs father, one_alone----onprlncely Theseus, who, head high and eyesproudly But Medea knew well that her hour had come, knew well that flashlng, marched looking nelther to the right nor to tle left. A her wttchfuasrule tn Athens was over. So once agaln she sum- surge of sudden love swept over the prlncess. And as the tatrnts moned her swift-flytng dragons. And once more they bore her rose all around her, she promlsed herself: "He shall not dlel- away-none lsrew where. As soon as ntght fell, Artadne stole out of the palace and went secretly to tJre captives. Not long after Aegeus had aclirrowledgedTheseus as hls son ..I "Fair youth," she whispered to Theseus, who for my bro- and helr, Athens was thrown lnto moumlng. Heralds had ardved ther's sake should be your enemy am not. Therefore, I have 44 45 Anne Terry WhJte brought you thls." And she took from the folds of her dress a gUstening sword and put it in Theseus'hand. The Judgment of Paris He g5aspeditJoyfully and strapped it beneath hJs garments. 'Now let the Mlnotaur roar as loud as he wi,ll-he will roar in by MaxJ. Herzberg valnl" Theseus sald. "Thanks, gracious Prlncess. May I live to serve youl- Ariadne then confessed her love, and Theseus, who found it ONE of the most beautlful of the Nereids was the sllvery- easy enoug;hto give hls in return, promised ardently to make footed Thetls, who dwelt with her slsters in the depths of the her his wife. sea, but was a favorlte of Juno. and often visited the hetghts of 'Indeed I would have it so," Ariadne sald. "But there is one Olympus. So lovely was she that both Jupiter and Neptune 'Without thCngmore," she added. it the sword would be useless. wlshed to marry her, but the oracles declared that her son would for you would never be able to flnd your way out of the f.abyrlnth, be greater than hts father, and nelther of the detttes dared rlsk wtrich the Athenian Daedalus br:llt. The Minotaur's house is a being overthrown. She was therefore glven in marriage to a maze. The passagesturn and turn and lead lnto one another and mortal, Peleus, ldng of the Myrmldons of Thessaly. end nowhere. None who enters may come forth agatn. Take, To the marriage feast of Peleus and Thetis came all the gods, therefore. this ball of thread. Tle one end to the inside of the door who brought many rich gifts. But one deity had not been in- and r:nwlnd the ball as you go. Then, windtng it agaln, you will vlted to the celebratlons-Eris, or Ate, the goddess of dlscord. be able to retrace your steps." She was greatly enraged at the overslght, and resolved ttrat she So it was that the hero met the Mirnotaur ln the gloomy would take revenge. Wtrile the merryrmaklng was at lts helght, depths of the t abyrinth and was not afrald. He came upon the therefore, she suddenly appeared in the midst of the revelers monster sleeping and leaped on him and battled furiously with and threw upon the ground a wonderful apple, brought from htm. And when the creature lay dead at hts feet. Theseus plcked the Garden of the Hesperides, and labeled "For the Fatrest." up the ball of thread and wound it back to tJle entrance. Immedtately a contention arose as to who should have the What joy there was when Theseus' glad voice resounded apple. All the contestants llnally wlttrdrew, except three: Jund, through the passages and his companlons saw thelr leader Venus, and Mlnerva. They appealed to Jupiter to settle the dis- emergelWhat embractng, what happy talk of homel With stealthy pute and award the apple, but he wlsely decllned to do so. He steps they made ttrelr way to their vessel, where Ariadne stood agreed, nevertheless, to appolnt an arbltrator, and told the an:dously waltlng for them. Deftly they hoisted sall, dipped their three goddesses that Paris of Troy would make the decislon. oars, and left the harbor so noiselessly that the Cretans never So the three goddessesthen hastened to Parls. Troy was a awoke to reellze their loss. ctty tn Asia Mlnor: it was sometlmes called Illon or llium. prtam Meantlme at Athens King Aegeus dally mounted the cllffs by retgned over Troy. He had been twice married, the second ilme tJle sea and sorrowfully stratned hls old eyes ln the directlon of to Hecuba, and had flfty sons, two of whom were of parflcular Crete. At last he saw the ship approachtng-and his heart died note: Hector, one of the noblest heroes of anclent ilmes, and wlthtn htm. Black satls drank the wlnd. In the joy of homecomtng, Parls, who was destlned to cause the destrucUon of hls people. Theseus had forgotten to change the dtsmal sails of mournlng. At the blrth of Parts tt had been prophesied that he would brlng "My son ls deadl" the unhappy King crled out. "Why, then, do dlsaster to Troy, and he had consequentlybeen exposed on a I ltve?" mountalnslde. But some shepherds had found htm and had Grlef overpowered him and he cast hlmself headlong into the brought him up, and he was at thls time a very handsome and sea. whlch ever after has borne hls name, attractlve youth. 'Juno: Romanname for the Gf€ekgodd€ss Hera, queen of the gods(See page 3 fora tableol Greekgods and th€ir Romanequlval€nts.) 47